Metabolic engineering boosts yeast antioxidant power for drug production

A recent study by researchers at Jiangnan University engineered the yeast Candida glabrata to boost its resistance to oxidative stress, a common challenge in industrial bioproduction. By introducing a malate biosynthesis pathway—via optimized expression of genes RoPYC (pyruvate carboxylase) and RoMDH (malate dehydrogenase) from Rhizopus oryzae—the team enhanced the yeast’s ability to produce malate, a key molecule linked to antioxidant activity.

The engineered strain showed reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increased ATP production, and elevated activity of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase. Notably, the malate-producing strain demonstrated significantly improved tolerance to the antimalarial drug artemisinin, suggesting broader applications in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

This breakthrough highlights the potential of metabolic engineering to develop robust microbial cell factories capable of withstanding harsh industrial conditions, paving the way for more efficient production of high-value chemicals and drugs.

The work entitled “Engineering the antioxidant activity of Candida glabrata by enhancing malate biosynthesis” was published on Systems Microbiology and Biomanufacturing (published on Mar. 25, 2025).